TV bacteria

[nashhorn]

I have a 7 yr old Mitsu projection. Big. All of a sudden I have specs. Looks like bacteria all over the screen, little bacillus rods. They are white on a dark background and black on lighter, colored background. Just came on all of a sudden. Looks like little dust particles all over the picture.
Any thoughts?
Hookem

 

[cmvUT75]

 

[brntorng]

Sounds like dust has collected on the optics which is not uncommon. It's very difficult to cool projectors with perfectly filtered air. Eventually enough dust gets through the filter to collect and become visible. Generally speaking, this is a cleaning job for a professional. I've disassembled and cleaned a few front projectors and it's not trivial. I've been successful, but held my breath throughout the process.

 

[nashhorn]

Dust is exactly what it looks like just so strange happened all of a sudden and that the particles, if that is what it is, are so uniform in shape and size.
Guess i will have to bite the bullet and call someone.

thanks,

 

[Uninformed]

Do you have kids? The optics have static electricity (a charge) and will attract particles in the air. If something was emptied near the screen (like little pieces of styrofoam or a cat rubbing against it or the cleaning of a nearby dust covered fan), the problem that you described could have happened all of a sudden.

I have never tried it, but I wonder if you could get a bottle of air from an electronic's store and spray the optics. It would be much cheaper than taking it in for repair.

 

[brntorng]

The dust you see is on the imager(s) which could be small LCD panels or other technology. They're usually buried deep inside the projector and are not readily accessible for just blowing off. They're enclosed to avoid collecting dust, but they do collect some over time. From my experience the dust didn't just happen all of a sudden. It gradually builds up until it gets bad enough for you to notice it all of a sudden.

 

[longyak]

You could check out the rear projector board at avsforum.com and see if someone can tell you how to clean the lenses and guns yourself.

 

[nashhorn]

Way too big to just take in somewhere. Thanks all, I will check the forum because, dangerous as my looking at it might be, I am not afraid to tinker a bit.
I do have a cat so if his actions could have caused the static it is possible I guess.
Brnt I know it seems implausible but it really did happen overnight. There were other issues that sometimes occurred, it would not turn on instantly showing red wavy lines then after turning back on and off would come right on, but no little particles showing in some areas previous to the whole screen becoming infected. All in all looks just like dust on the inside, like on the mirror or something but just so strange to have happened like presto! Everyone has little black marks on their face and the dark areas have bright shiny stars.

Hookem

 

[longyak]

Usually it is cleaning the back of the lensticular(screen), the mirror and the light guns' lenses.

 

[nashhorn]

Thanks all. Took off back, cleaned lenses - both sides and blew off whatever is below them with canned air, put all back together and viola!! No more dust mites!!! Went through a complete convergence and picture is as good as ever. Not current Plasma/LCD/DLP class but as good as was 6 yrs ago when I bought it (minus the yellowing shade on some areas from what I take as burn in).

Once again I appreciate all who contribute to HF.

Hookem